Tag: Thomas Jefferson

One of the first major in-your-face assaults to abolish our U.S. Constitution and eradicate many of our rights and freedoms occurred over five decades ago when the Supreme Court made a horrendous decision blocking prayer in schools.

Their 1963 ruling made it illegal for students to participate in prayer while in school because it violates the “Separation of Church and State.” The basis of their decision does not appear in our priceless document, nor the Bill of Rights, but it effectively regulated our religious practices and stifled free speech.

In actual fact, what occurred with that decision, and a few others that followed, is that the Court acted as a censoring board of American citizens completely violating the First Amendment, which they are charged to protect.

Examples such as this are proof that anyone who is nominated for the life-long appointment to the Supreme Court must have an exemplary track record of supporting and defending the Constitution and US laws, and not altering or interpreting them for what are political, minority or special interest reasons.

Actions as the above, along with numerous other examples, beg the question “how important are rights, liberty and freedom to you and your family?” Education on the Constitution is your only real defense against those rights, freedom and liberty being taken from you.

The upcoming new movie, In Search of Liberty, produced and directed by Norm Novitsky, makes it easy, simple and fun to learn and know your Constitution. In the movie, a captivating statesman from America’s past takes a modern-day family on a series of wild adventures.

With a spicy mix of humor, magic and logic, he opens their eyes to the origins and importance of the U.S. Constitution, the degree to which it is under attack today and what can and must be done to save it.

Key aspects of the Constitution are clearly outlined and important Amendments — such as those guaranteeing freedom of religion and speech, the right to bear arms, warrants for search and seizure, State’s rights — are shown to be vital in everyday life.

As Thomas Jefferson said, “Educate and inform the whole mass of people… They are the only sure reliance for the preservation of our liberty.” And, George Washington was quite clear when he said, “If freedom of speech is taken away then dumb and silent we may be led, like sheep to the slaughter.”

Know your rights!

Protect your rights!

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Scott D. Welch is the COO of IC Liberty Films LLC, the production company of the historic educational and entertaining movie In Search of Liberty.

Many Americans do not realize the extent to which the First Amendment, especially free speech, has been under attack.

It is clear, according to the First Amendment, that free speech cannot be abridged. Period. Yet, it gets done constantly.

Political Correctness has been strangling Free Speech for many years. The same can be said about Free Speech Zones, places designated where people may freely voice their opinions.

Sorry, the United States, in total, is a Free Speech Zone!

However, there are many people and places undermining our right in this area. Take, for instance, institutions of higher learning.

Three years ago, the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) reported that 59% of American colleges and universities have policies in place that impede First Amendment rights. Another 35% have “policies that overregulate speech on campus.”

That is a total of 94% of our colleges and universities practicing, in one form or another, oppression of one’s right to speak freely, here is these United States.

Every American needs to be aware of all of our rights, as specifically laid out in the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights and other Amendments.

Having various rights and freedoms infringed upon was a primary motivation, along with the subject not really being taught in school any more, for the production of the movie In Search of Liberty, an educational film, that is also highly entertaining, designed to enlighten young and old alike about our basic rights and freedoms.

In the movie, a captivating statesman from America’s past takes a modern-day family on a series of wild adventures. With a spicy mix of humor, magic and logic, he opens their eyes to the origins and importance of the U.S. Constitution, the degree to which it is under attack today and what can and must be done to save it.

And, make no mistake, it must be saved.

There are those on the left who are constantly working to either undermine or totally ignore that priceless document that our Founding Fathers worked so hard to put together. And, if you are not aware of all of your rights, you do not know when they are being taken away.

As Thomas Jefferson said, “Educate and inform the whole mass of the people… They are the only sure reliance for the preservation of our liberty.” Another Founding Father, John Adams, echoed those words when he said, “Liberty cannot be preserved without general knowledge among the people.”

Know your rights!

Keep your rights!

# # #

Scott D Welch is the COO of IC Liberty Films LLC, the production company of the historic educational and entertaining movie In Search of Liberty.

The 2nd Amendment to the Constitution, the second item addressed in OUR Bill of Rights, states: “A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.”

In this short video, Republican Presidential candidate Donald J. Trump is very clear and quite precise on his stand regarding Americans and their right to own guns.

He is in good company.

There was, and there still are, very good reasons for citizens to bear arms.

Our Founding Fathers wrote the 2nd because they knew that an armed populace would not (easily) fall to tyrannical leaders.

Founding Fathers Patrick Henry and George Mason of Virginia both lobbied and fought for a bill of rights, as the Constitution gave too much power to the centralized government. They battled long and hard to convince their fellow Patriots to arm the people with Rights, Rights which would help define freedom and liberty as never before.

Regarding arms, Mason said, “To disarm the people…[i]s the most effectual way to enslave them.”

Henry, ever the orator, said, “Guard with jealous attention the public liberty. Suspect everyone who approaches that jewel. Unfortunately, nothing will preserve it but downright force. Whenever you give up that force, you are ruined…. The great object is that every man be armed. Everyone who is able might have a gun.”

Meanwhile, Alexander Hamilton said, “The best we can help for concerning the people at large is that they be properly armed.”

And Thomas Jefferson stated, “What country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance. Let them take arms.”

Perhaps our first President, George Washington, said it best, “Firearms stand next in importance to the constitution itself. They are the American people’s liberty teeth and keystone under independence.”

Let us not dwell on the fact that the U.S. Constitution and its Bill of Rights are over 240 years old. Let us, instead, marvel at the foresight our Founding Fathers had in preparing foundational writings that can stand, and have stood, the test of time when they are followed by a moral and ethical people.

To hear our Founding Fathers speak of liberty and freedom you might believe that they had some knowledge and experience with the subject matter. They spoke and wrote openly of their concerns about what it would take to keep liberty strong, how liberty could be taken away, how freedoms could be lost. What these Patriots voiced over 240 years ago is just as valid today as it may have been back in the 18th & 19th centuries, if not more so.

A simple definition of the word liberty is “the state or condition of people who are able to act and speak freely.” It includes freedom from restraint or control from almost anything, other than illegal or harmful activities. When one looks around today, we do see our freedoms being lessened, while our government has morphed into an uncontrollable behemoth where the political elitists do as they please and damned be the people.

Carpenters’ Hall – First Continental Congress meeting place

Please take a few minutes to read a sampling of our ancestors had to say. Several are speaking to us as if they were alive today.

Whoever would overthrow the liberty of a nation must begin by subduing the freeness of speech.Benjamin Franklin

Educate and inform the whole mass of the people… They are the only sure reliance for the preservation of our liberty.John Hancock

The advancement and diffusion of knowledge is the only guardian of true liberty.James Madison

A free people ought not only be armed and disciplined, but they should have sufficient arms and ammunition to maintain a status of independence from any who might attempt to abuse them, which would include their own government.George Washington

When the people fear their government, there is tyranny. When the government fears the people, there is liberty.Thomas Jefferson

If ever a time should come, when vain and aspiring men shall possess the highest seats in Government, our country will stand in need of its experienced patriots to prevent its ruin.Samuel Adams

A Constitution of Government once changed from Freedom, can never be restored. Liberty, once lost, is lost forever.John Adams

There is a certain enthusiasm in liberty that makes human nature rise above itself in acts of bravery and heroism.Alexander Hamilton

Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!Patrick Henry